(UPBEAT MUSIC) BACKYARD FARMER IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) TONIGHT FOR OUR SEASON FINALE ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'LL GET SOME GRAPE HARVESTING TIPS AND TAKE A LOOK BACK AT OUR GROWING SEASON AT OUR GARDEN.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARMER.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FINAL EPISODE OF BACKYARD FARMER FOR THIS YEAR.

I'M KIM TODD, AND WE'RE SO GLAD YOU CAN JOIN US FOR A FINAL HOUR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY DIALING 1-800-676-5446 AND OUR VOLUNTEERS WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU.

SINCE THIS IS THE FINAL PROGRAM OF THE YEAR, WE'LL BE PUTTING EMAIL QUESTIONS ON HOLD, BUT YOU CAN STILL GET GREAT TIPS, VIDEOS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE.

SAMPLES AND WAYNE, YOU BROUGHT IN STINGERS?

I DID BRING IN STINGERS.

EVERY YEAR.

WHEN WE GET INTO THIS LATE AUGUST INTO SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME, I GET LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO REMOVE BEE NESTS FROM VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE HOME AND LANDSCAPE, AND THEY'VE TRIED CALLING A PEST CONTROL COMPANY, AND THEY WON'T TOUCH A BEE COLONY, WHICH IS THEY DON'T WANT TO BE LABELED AS BEE KILLERS.

I DON'T BLAME THEM.

AND SO YOU REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A YELLOW JACKET AND A HONEY BEE.

MOST OF THE TIME.

THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE YELLOW JACKETS, WHICH IS THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

THIS ONE'S A REPRODUCTIVE, SO IT IS A LOT LARGER THAN THE STANDARD HONEYBEE HERE.

IT WOULD BE A LOT CLOSER IN SIZE, BUT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT YELLOW AND BLACK PATTERN AS OPPOSED TO AN ORANGE AND BLACK PATTERN.

I KNOW IT CAN BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT WHEN THEY'RE ZOOMING IN AND OUT, BUT YOUR PEST CONTROL PROFESSIONALS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP YOU WITH THOSE YELLOW JACKETS AS OPPOSED TO THOSE HONEYBEES.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD IF YOU ARE RUNNING AND SHRIEKING.

YES.

YES, I HEARD ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TONIGHT?

WELL, WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT VINEY WEEDS.

AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS, IS KIND OF A WEED.

IT'S A VOLUNTEER MORNING GLORY THAT POPPED UP IN ONE OF OUR GARDENS.

AND SO IT'S FINE.

IT'S WELL BEHAVED.

YOU KNOW, IT FLOWERS AS LABELED IN THE MORNING.

SO BY, YOU KNOW, NOON TIME, THINGS ARE CLOSING UP PRETTY FAST.

AND BY, YOU KNOW, LATE IN THE DAY IT'S ALL SHUT DOWN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT YOU CAN TOLERATE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS FOR YOU.

AND I SEE SOME SEED PODS ON THAT ONE POTENTIALLY.

YEAH.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE DEVELOPING SOME OF THAT.

SO WE'LL SEE MORE THAN ONE.

MAYBE NEXT YEAR IT'LL BE A FEW MORE.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, KYLE LET'S SEE YOUR SAMPLE.

YEAH.

SO MY SAMPLE TODAY IS PICTURES ACTUALLY.

ABOUT A MONTH OR THREE WEEKS OR SO AGO, I WALKED INTO MY OFFICE AND THERE WAS A PACKAGE ON THE DESK AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS.

JUST A NOTE SAID THIS WAS DELIVERED TO BACKYARD FARMER DENISE BLEVINS FROM GREELEY, COLORADO, AND WAS WALKED OUTSIDE ONE MORNING AND SAW A BEAUTIFUL SLIME MOLD.

BUT BECAUSE SHE WATCHES BACKYARD FARMER, SHE KNEW WHAT THIS WAS, TOOK SOME PICTURES, SUBMITTED THEM INTO TO THE COUNTY FAIR, ACTUALLY WON THE TO THE FLORAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION.

GOT AN EIGHTH PLACE RIBBON WHICH HE ALSO SENT MY WAY, WHICH IS AWESOME.

I WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT A MUCH BETTER PLACEMENT.

PROBABLY NOT A BLUE RIBBON.

BLUE WAS THIRD.

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY YOU WOULD SAY BLUE IS THE BEST COUNTY FAIR.

THE FIRST PLACE RIBBON IS PURPLE.

I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A PURPLE RIBBON, DIANE.

THANK YOU.

IT'S LOVELY.

AND THAT'S A GREAT STORY.

THANKS, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, SCOTT, GOOD LUCK.

IT IS BIGGER THAN IT LOOKS ON THEN ON TV.

THIS IS LIATRIS.

THIS IS ROUGH BLAZING STAR.

IT IS A PERENNIAL.

IT'S ONE OF THE MIDWEST PERENNIALS THAT DOES EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

WHAT'S REALLY NICE ABOUT THIS LIATRIS IS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE LATER BLOOMING LIATRIS.

A LOT OF OUR MORE TRADITIONAL ONES HAVE ALREADY WRAPPED UP.

THIS ONE'S JUST GETTING STARTED.

IT'S A STUNNING SPECIMEN FOR THE GARDEN AS WELL IN HOT, DRY LOCATIONS, BEES BUTTERFLIES JUST REALLY FLOCK TO IT.

IT IS A CLUMP FORMING.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CORMS LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER LIATRIS DOES.

SO IF YOU SEE ROUGH BLAZING STAR ANYWHERE, I WOULD RECOMMEND GETTING IT, BUT STAKE IT AND GIVE IT SOME SPACE.

AND IT DOESN'T USUALLY GET THAT BIG.

THIS ONE, IT'S ON STEROIDS.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE DID.

IT JUST WENT NUTS THIS YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

LOVE IT.

THANKS, GUYS.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO QUESTIONS.

LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE WAYNE FROM OMAHA.

FOUND THIS ON TOMATOES AND WANTED TO SHARE.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE AFTER THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME.

SO WE HAVE A BUNDLE HERE OF WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BORROW THE LINE FROM FRED BAXENDALE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS PART OF NATURE'S WONDROUS PAGEANTRY GOING ON RIGHT HERE.

THIS HORNWORM HAS BEEN PARASITIZED BY A PARASITIC WASP.

AND EACH ONE OF THOSE LITTLE WHITE THINGS COMING OUT OF IT IS A COCOON FROM ONE OF THE WASP LARVAE THAT SPENT ITS TIME INSIDE THAT CATERPILLAR, EATING IT FROM THE INSIDE.

AND THAT ONE'S DEAD.

AND I THINK WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE NON-DEAD HORNWORM.

NO, IT IS DEAD AT THAT POINT.

IT'S ALREADY GONE.

IT DOESN'T KNOW IT YET.

WELL, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE FUNGI THAT ATTACK INSECTS AS WELL AS THE WASPS, THEY WILL ALTER THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR HOSTS WHERE THEY WILL CLAMP ON AND GRAB ON AND HOLD ON TIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE DEAD AND GONE.

OH, OKAY.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE FROM ATLANTIC, IOWA.

SHE PICKED CHERRY TOMATOES AND FOUND THIS GUY CRAWLING ON PAPER TOWELS.

WHAT IS THAT?

IF IT CAME FROM THE TOMATO PLANTS WHEN I ZOOMED IN, IT'S NOT SUPER CLEAR.

SO MY BEST GUESS ON THIS ONE IS A TOMATO FRUIT WORM, WHICH IS ALSO THE SAME THING AS A CORN EARWORM OR A COTTON BOLLWORM.

OKAY, ALL THREE OF THEM ARE THE SAME THING AND ALL ACCEPTED COMMON NAMES TO SCIENCE.

YEAH, THEY CAN BE A PROBLEM.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF TOMATOES THIS YEAR OUT OF OUR GROWING IN NEBRASKA, AND THEY HAVE LOTS OF HOLES FROM THEM.

ALL RIGHT THEN WE HAVE ONE FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA, REMOVING SOME CONCRETE.

AND THIS SURFACED AND HE SAYS, WHAT IS THIS BEAUTIFUL THING?

IT'S ONE OF OUR CENTIPEDES.

IT IS A NATIVE ONE.

SO ENJOY IT.

OKAY.

AND THEN ONE FROM PAPILLION ON, CHIVES AND BASIL PLANTS ON A RAISED DECK.

NEVER HAD THEM BEFORE.

THERE WERE 15 AT ONE POINT.

WHAT ARE THESE?

THESE ARE YELLOW STRIPED ARMYWORM.

THERE HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED LARGE FLIGHT THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, SO I WOULD SUSPECT THAT'S WHY THEY FOUND 15 OF THEM AND PICK THEM OFF IS PROBABLY THE BEST THING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE EATING THAT FRESH.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE, JEFF, ONE PICTURE FROM COLUMBUS.

THIS IS WHAT ARE THESE?

WHAT IS THIS?

YOU HAVE WINDMILL GRASS.

SO IT'S A NICE WARM SEASON PERENNIAL.

IT'S A CLUMP GRASS.

AND YOU SEE A LOT OF IT RIGHT NOW.

SO ESPECIALLY AFTER OUR HOT WEATHER AND ALL THAT, YOU CAN REALLY SEE IT, YOU KNOW, DRIVING AROUND TOWN HERE IN LINCOLN.

SO IT'S REALLY COME UP PRETTY QUICK.

YOU CAN KEEP MOWING IT.

YOU CAN TREAT IT WITH MESOTRIONE BECAUSE IT'S A WARM SEASON.

YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO THAT SOONER THAN LATER.

IT'S GOING TO START GOING DORMANT HERE PRETTY QUICK.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO TREAT IT, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO GET IT DONE.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE SHE SAYS THREE FEET TALL AND IT STICKS TO EVERYTHING.

AND SHE'S GOT THE SEED HEAD SHOWING THERE.

YEAH.

SO THIS HAS LOTS OF FUN NAMES, BUT I'LL GO WITH ROUGH BRISTLEGRASS.

SO IT'S AN ANNUAL.

AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S AN ANNUAL, I WOULD SAY PULL IT AT THIS STAGE, ESPECIALLY THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

IT'S ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO MESOTRIONE AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT ONE FROM DECATUR.

BIG CRABGRASS PROBLEM IN THE LAWN.

SO SHE WANTS TO KNOW THE PROCESS.

AERATE, FERTILIZE, SEED.

WHAT'S THE CORRECT ORDER AND THE TIMING AND THE WAIT TIME.

SO WE'RE RIGHT THERE.

I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN THIS LAST WEEK LIKE WE DID HERE.

SO I WOULD GO AHEAD AND GET THE YARD AERATED.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SEED AND FERTILIZE ALL AT THE SAME TIME, ALL AT THE SAME DAY.

SOMEONE RIGHT BEHIND YOU WITH THE SPREADER GOING WHILE YOU'RE AERATING.

AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THAT DOWN, THEN I WOULD BE WATERING IT DAILY.

I MEAN, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY RAIN, I WOULDN'T OVER WATER, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO KEEP THINGS MOIST THEN UNTIL WE HAVE MAYBE THREE INCHES TALL AND THEN YOU CAN START MOWING.

ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

ONE MORE.

THIS IS FROM OMAHA.

HE SPRAYED ALONG THE LOT LINE WITH MESOTRIONE AS A CRABGRASS PRE-EMERGE.

AND HE'S WONDERING IF IT COULD CONTROL A ZOYSIA INTRUSION.

AND IS THERE A SCHEDULE FOR THAT?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

WELL, IT'S PROBABLY BLEACHED IT A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S KILLED IT.

SO MEZZO WORKS ON WARM SEASON GRASSES.

SO IT'LL ZOYSIA'S WARM SEASON ALTHOUGH BUFFALO GRASS WILL TOLERATE IT.

SO YOUR FESCUE BLUEGRASS IS ALL THAT WILL TOLERATE IT.

IT WORKS ON WARM SEASONS.

SO YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE TO DO REPEATED APPLICATIONS TO KEEP IT AT BAY.

AND FROM THAT STANDPOINT, IT MIGHT WORK THAT WAY TO KEEP IT, KEEP IT OFF THAT WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO KYLE, THIS ONE SAYS THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SPOTS ON THE CUCUMBER LEAVES, LEAVES DIE.

THE CUKES DON'T GROW NORMALLY AND SIMILAR SPOTS.

AND THEN THEY ALL DIE.

YEAH.

AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY EVERY CUCUMBER IN NEBRASKA LOOKS SIMILAR TO THIS LEAF RIGHT NOW.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR.

THEY WE GET A LOT OF THESE LEAF SPOTS.

THERE'S A FEW BACTERIAL LEAF SPOTS.

I THINK THIS ONE'S FUNGAL.

I THINK THIS IS ALTERNARIA LEAF SPOT.

BUT AND THEN THIS ONE IS UNRELATED I THINK.

SO THIS TO ME, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BUG.

WAYNE CONFIRMED.

YES I WOULD.

IT DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE A FEEDING PATTERN FROM AN INSECT ON THERE.

OKAY.

SO YEAH, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON WITH, WITH THE CUCUMBERS AND LOTS OF DISEASES, LOTS OF INSECT FEEDING, ALL SORTS OF STUFF.

SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?

WELL, RIGHT NOW, REALLY NOTHING.

THE YOU KNOW, THAT CUCUMBER THAT'S STILL GOING TO BE FINE TO EAT THE LEAF, THE INJURY TO THE LEAVES.

WE DON'T NEED TO SPRAY ANYTHING.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SANITATION EFFORT.

AND SO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CLEANING EVERYTHING UP VERY WELL AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR, GO AHEAD AND BE SURE TO BE WATERING AT THE BASE OF THE PLANT.

TRY TO AVOID GETTING WATER ON THOSE LEAVES.

SHOULD CUT DOWN ON THE FUNGUS.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE ON THIS ONE WAS HARVESTING POPCORN.

AND THE PICTURED EAR HAS THESE SPOTS ON THE KERNELS.

THE EAR IS STUNTED AND STILL WET.

THE REST OF THE CROP IS MATURING AND DRY.

YEAH, THIS IS AWESOME.

THIS IS FUSARIUM EAR ROT.

AND SO SOMETHING THAT I SEE VERY REGULARLY IN THE DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC.

BUT IF YOU KIND OF LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE SOME KIND OF LIKE WHITE STARBURST PATTERNING ON THOSE ON THOSE KERNELS.

AND THAT WHITE IS ACTUALLY THE FUNGUS THAT'S GROWING UNDERNEATH THE EPIDERMIS OF THE KERNEL.

AND THEN GROWING INTO THAT, I WOULD REFRAIN FROM EATING IT.

FUSARIUM ARE REALLY GOOD AT MAKING OTHER STUFF.

SO SOME MYCOTOXINS.

SO PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO CONSUME, BUT JUST COOL TO LOOK AT.

OKAY.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, KYLE.

THIS IS DISEASE IN THE FESCUE LAWN ABOUT THE END OF JULY.

THEY HAVE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

THEY WATER, THEY DO A ONE AND DONE GRUB CONTROL.

BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE.

YEAH.

I WOULD LIKE A SAMPLE FOR THIS ONE.

THE TO ME IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE ONE OF OUR ROOT DISEASES, BUT IT LOOKS.

IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE A TALL FESCUE LAWN.

AND WE DON'T SEE ROOT DISEASES ON OUR TALL FESCUE LAWNS.

IT MIGHT BE BROWN PATCH THAT'S JUST SHOWING UP A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT STRANGE.

WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE HOMEOWNER IS TO GO OUT AND DIG DOWN AND LOOK AT THE CROWNS OF THAT, OF THAT TURF.

AND IF THE CROWNS ARE STILL GREEN AND ALIVE, THEN IT IS BROWN PATCH AND THE TURF WILL GROW OUT OF IT JUST FINE.

IF THE CROWNS ARE DEAD, THEN YOU'D WANT TO BE OVERSEEDING.

AS JEFF JUST MENTIONED, NOW'S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR TO BE OVERSEEDING ANYWAY.

ALL RIGHT, SCOTT, THREE PICTURES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HAMPTON.

HE'S WORRIED ABOUT A PEAR TREE AND THE THREE PICTURES SHOW US.

AND YES, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT HAS PEAR BLIGHT OR NOT.

RIGHT?

NO.

IT COULD HAVE A BLIGHT, BUT IT'S AT THE END OF ITS LIFE CYCLE.

IT HAS A HECK OF A LOT OF DAMAGE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS PORTION OF THE TREE HAD BEEN REMOVED.

JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT OUT AND START OVER.

OKAY.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, IS IT.

THIS IS OMAHA.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAVE THIS CRABAPPLE?

IT DIDN'T BLOOM AND IT'S LOOKING TOUGH.

IT DOES LOOK ROUGH.

IT IS IN A CHALLENGING LOCATION.

IT'S SURROUNDED BY SOME ROCK.

YOU DO HAVE MULCH AROUND IT, WHICH IS A GREAT THING, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN DECLINING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

YOU COULD TRY TO DO SOME GOOD WATERING, GOOD HEALTH CARE PRACTICES, BUT THE CHANCES ARE PROBABLY SLIM.

ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS ON AN ACREAGE BETWEEN HICKMAN AND ROCA.

IT'S A 30 FOOT TALL FIR, ABOUT 25 YEARS OLD.

AND WIND, SUN AND THEN SHE'D LIKE TO SAVE IT BECAUSE SHE SAYS THE TOP LOOKS GOOD.

YEAH, THE TOP DOES LOOK GOOD.

THE TREE DOES KIND OF THE TOP QUARTER TO MAYBE THE THIRD DOES HAVE SOME PROMISE, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE'VE HAD THAT CAN.

DROUGHT DAMAGE IS A SNOWBALL AND WE CAN GO MULTIPLE YEARS OF DROUGHT DAMAGE.

AND WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW AND WE REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS DROUGHT DAMAGE.

SO TRY TO GIVE IT SOME WATER IF WE'RE ABLE TO AND JUST KEEP IT GOING.

YEAH.

AND ONE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS PAPILLION.

HE HAS AN ASPEN.

THREE TRUNKS AND THEY'RE CROSSING AND RUBBING.

AND HE'S WONDERING CAN HE PULL THEM APART OR.

NO, WE CAN'T PULL THESE APART WHEN WE HAVE CLUMP TREES.

THEY ARE THREE TREES IN THE SAME HOLE.

EVENTUALLY YOU MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE THAT REALLY TOUGH DECISION TO REMOVE ONE OF THOSE AS TO GIVE THE OTHER TWO OR JUST GO DOWN TO ONE.

BUT YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE A LABOR OF LOVE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

SCOTT.

WE HAVEN'T FEATURED GRAPES FOR A WHILE.

SO TONIGHT WE'RE GETTING EXPERT TIPS FROM CALEB WEHRBEIN AT KIMBALL ORCHARD AND VINEYARD.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TABLE GRAPES AND WINE GRAPES IS THAT WINE GRAPES WILL USUALLY CARRY THICKER SKIN ON THEM, AND A LOT OF GROWERS LEAVE THEM OUT IN THE FIELD TO ACCUMULATE A HIGHER SUGAR CONTENT.

THAT'S KIND OF HELPFUL FOR WINEMAKING, AND WINE GRAPES USUALLY CARRY A SEED IN THEM.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TABLE GRAPES, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT KIND OF LARGER GRAPES THAT LACK THE SEED AND ARE THINNER SKINNED AND MORE PLEASANT FOR EATING.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HARVESTING GRAPES, IT'S NOT LIKE AN APPLE OR PEAR, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TWIST OFF THE TREE AND PULL OUT, BUT WE KIND OF COME IN WITH PRUNING SHEARS AND HARVEST ENTIRE CLUSTERS AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WINE GRAPES, THERE'S A FEW TOOLS THAT GROWERS USE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE APPROPRIATE TIMING IS FOR HARVESTING THEIR GRAPES.

A LOT OF GROWERS WILL USE A REFRACTOMETER TO MEASURE THE BRIX CONTENT, OR THE SUGAR CONTENT OF THE GRAPES, TO KIND OF HELP THEM DURING THE WINEMAKING PROCESS.

OTHER GROWERS CAN TEST FOR TITRATABLE ACIDITY OR OTHER FACTORS THAT WILL KIND OF HELP THEM DETERMINE WHEN THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO HARVEST IS.

SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY HARVESTING THE GRAPE, WILL YOU GO IN WITH PRUNING SHEARS TO CUT OUT CLUSTERS AT A TIME FROM THE VINE, RATHER THAN PICKING OUT INDIVIDUAL BERRIES, THE WEATHER AND THE TIMING OF YOUR HARVEST CAN KIND OF HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR GRAPE QUALITY.

WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GO INTO THE WINEMAKING PROCESS, WHAT YOU'LL WANT TO DO IS HARVEST THE GRAPES EARLIER IN THE MORNING DURING WHEN IT'S COOLER CONDITIONS, BECAUSE HEAT WILL SPEED UP THE SPOILAGE PROCESS ON YOUR GRAPES IF YOU PICK THEM EARLY IN THE MORNING, OR PICK THEM AND GET THEM ON ICE IN A COOLER PRETTY QUICK, THAT CAN HELP PRESERVE THEIR SHELF LIFE.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT KIND OF THE HARVEST TIMING WINDOW, IT'S HELPFUL TO LOOK FOR INDICATORS THAT THE CROP IS READY.

YOU'LL NOTICE AS YOU GO THROUGH THE GROWING SEASON WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY ON THE GRAPE VINE, THEY'RE A SMALL, HARD AND USUALLY GREEN GRAPES.

AND AS THE SEASON GOES ON, THESE BERRIES WILL GROW IN SIZE.

THE BERRIES WILL OFTEN GET SOFTER, AND USUALLY THERE'S A CHANGE OF COLOR THAT COMES AROUND WITH THEM.

THAT'S CALLED VERAISON.

AND THAT CAN HELP GROWERS INDICATE WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT TO HARVEST OR WHEN THEY'RE READY TO HARVEST.

WITH WINE GRAPES WHILE THEY'RE SITTING ON THE VINE LONGER, YOU MIGHT BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WILDLIFE PRESSURE THAT MIGHT EAT THE GRAPES EARLY.

SO IN ORDER TO PROTECT FROM BIRDS OR INSECTS, GROWERS CAN USE BIRD NETTING TO HELP EXCLUDE BIRDS FROM EATING THE GRAPES EARLY.

OR SOMETIMES WE SEE GROWERS PUT UP LIKE STRINGS AND CDS KIND OF MOTION TO DETER BIRDS AWAY FROM THE VINE.

COMMERCIAL VINEYARDS CAN ALSO USE SOUND MACHINES TO SCARE BIRDS AWAY.

WEATHER CAN BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR, TOO.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT RAINFALL THAT CAN DILUTE THE SUGARS IN THE GRAPES.

SO IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING A HIGHER SUGAR CONTENT IN YOUR GRAPE FOR WINEMAKING, IF THERE ARE IF THERE'S RAIN IN THE FORECAST, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO OUT AND HARVEST THOSE GRAPES EARLIER SO THAT A LOT OF WATER DOESN'T SEEP INTO THAT BERRY AND DILUTE THE SUGARS.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO GROW YOUR OWN GRAPES AT HOME, MY BEST PIECE OF ADVICE IS JUST DON'T GET DISCOURAGED AND JUST JUMP RIGHT INTO IT.

GRAPES ARE PRETTY DIFFICULT TO KILL, AND IF YOU MESS UP, YOU CAN JUST START OVER.

IT'S JUST KIND OF A FUN PROJECT THAT YOU CAN TAKE ON OVER THE YEARS FROM LIKE TRAINING THE VINES AND JUST EXPERIENCED A WHOLE PROCESS OF GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD AT HOME.

(RUSTLING) THANKS TO CALEB AND MAGGIE AT KIMMEL FOR THE GOOD MANAGEMENT TIPS.

WE MIGHT BRING YOU MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING GRAPES WHEN WE RETURN NEXT SEASON.

ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE.

THIS IS WHAT WILL THIS BE, WAYNE?

WELL, THIS IS A VERY FUN CATERPILLAR.

THIS IS A VARIEGATED FRITILLARY.

THEY FEED ON VIOLETS.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

THAT'S HOW I KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

BECAUSE I SAW THE HALF EATEN VIOLET LEAF IN THE PICTURE, AND IT GAVE ME THE CLUE OF WHERE TO START LOOKING ON.

WHAT?

IT WAS NICE.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FROM BENNINGTON ARE THESE WALNUT CATERPILLAR MOTHS.

THEY HAVE TWO PECAN TREES, SEVEN YEARS OLD.

ONE IS DEFOLIATED OVERNIGHT, AND NOW THEY'RE FEASTING ON THE OTHER ONE.

SHOULD THEY LET THEM GO OR TRY TO DO SOMETHING.

SINCE THEY'RE STILL THERE AND FEEDING?

YES, YOU CAN TRY TO DO SOMETHING.

MOST OF THE TIME THESE ARE POP UP AND DONE TYPE OF SITUATION.

AND DESPITE THE NAME WALNUT CATERPILLARS, THEY DO FEED ON BITTERNUT AND HICKORY AND PECANS AS WELL.

YOU CAN TRY TO SPRAY FOR THEM AS LONG AS THERE AREN'T PECANS ON THERE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO EAT BECAUSE I'M AND YOU CAN FIND A PRODUCT THAT'S LABELED FOR THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF TREE THAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT.

OKAY, THREE PICTURES FROM WYMORE.

WHAT ARE THESE BUGS ON THE SYCAMORES AND HOW DO THEY GET RID OF THEM?

AND THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ON EVERY SYCAMORE IN NEBRASKA.

EVERYWHERE?

YEAH.

SO THESE ARE LACE BUGS.

AND TYPICALLY THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR THE DAMAGE SHOWS UP AND THEY CAN BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE.

THEY'LL HAVE THEM ONE YEAR IN LARGE NUMBERS.

THE NEXT YEAR NOT SO MUCH.

I WOULD ACTUALLY WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THERE ARE ADULTS MOSTLY RIGHT NOW.

CONTROL IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

SO IF YOU HAVE A LARGE POPULATION NEXT YEAR, EARLY TO MID SUMMER, THEN YOU CAN TREAT WITH SOMETHING.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

WE HAVE THREE FROM VALENTINE.

JEFF.

IT'S A VINE THAT IS SORT OF PLANTING ITSELF IN HER FLOWER BEDS.

PICTURE WITH FLOWERS IS WHAT WE ASKED FOR.

SO WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO WE CONTROL IT?

IT'S WILD BUCKWHEAT.

SO IT'S AND AS YOU CAN SEE WITH ALL THE LITTLE FLOWERS, IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE A LOT OF LITTLE SEEDS THAT WITH THAT GROUP WILL DO THAT.

FALLOPIA GROUP WILL PRODUCE A LOT OF LITTLE SEEDS.

SO THE DOWNSIDE IS IT'S KIND OF RESISTANT TO HERBICIDES.

SO IT MAY BE ONE OF THESE, THIS IS A PULL SORT OF THING.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO STAY WITH IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LET ANY MORE FLOWERS PRODUCE SEED.

SO THEN LOOK AT DOING PRE-EMERGE IN THE SPRING AND THAT WILL HELP.

OKAY, WE HAVE THIS IS FOUND THIS WEED IN JOHNSON COUNTY.

WHAT IS IT?

THEY HAVE NOT SEEN PODS LIKE THIS.

IT'S IN LANCASTER COUNTY TOO, I BET SO.

I'LL BET SO.

YEAH.

RIGHT.

THAT'S HONEY VINE MILKWEED.

SO AND THIS IS A PERENNIAL.

AND THOSE PODS, IF YOU LET THOSE GO, I PROMISE YOU THEY WILL PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF SEEDS THAT WILL FLOAT IN THE AIR AROUND YOUR YOUR HOME AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S YARDS.

IT'S ALSO A FAVORITE OF MONARCHS, RIGHT.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE FAVORITES.

IN FACT, I KNOW ON CAMPUS, I HESITATED REMOVING SOME BECAUSE IT HAD CATERPILLARS ON IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

SO BUT THIS ONE, THIS WOULD BE KIND OF THE GLOVE OF DEATH SORT OF TREATMENT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SO GETTING A GLOVE, A RUBBER GLOVE, A CLOTH GLOVE, SPRAYING HERBICIDE ON THERE AND JUST WIPING IT ON THE PLANT.

ALL RIGHT.

AND VIEWERS CAN SEE THAT.

YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO.

YES.

RIGHT.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE, NO QUESTION.

BUT THIS IS FOR YOU, JEFF.

A PORTRAIT OF HER INVASIVE FOOTBALL.

HER SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS HERE.

YEAH.

ISN'T THAT IS SO COOL.

SHE IS VERY LUCKY.

SO AND AGAIN, THIS IS A FUN PLANT.

I LIKE I LIKE THIS CLEMATIS BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S BLOOMING LATER IN THE YEAR, WHICH IS FUN.

BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A BIT WEEDY.

AND IT'S ONE THAT IF YOU NOTICE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BETTER OFF DIGGING THOSE UP SOONER THAN LATER, NOT LETTING THEM GET ESTABLISHED.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

LET'S SEE, KYLE, TWO PICTURES ON THIS.

THIS IS GOLDEN RASPBERRY CANES.

AND THIS STARTED IN JULY.

2 TO 3 CANES PER WEEK DYING FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

IS IT A VIRUS.

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR NEXT SEASON.

YEAH IT'S.

PROBABLY NOT A VIRUS FROM THIS PICTURE CAN REALLY TELL ANYTHING.

BUT WITH THIS PICTURE, IF YOU LOOK ESPECIALLY AT THAT ONE ON THE FAR RIGHT, THERE'S A LOT OF PURPLE REDDISH KIND OF LESIONS ON THAT ON THE ON THOSE CANES.

THIS IS CANE BLIGHT.

IT'S CAUSED BY A FUNGUS.

AND THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL THIS FUNGUS IS TO NOT PRUNE DURING THE SEASON IF YOU CAN AVOID IT.

AND SO IT'S THE IT INFECTS INFECTS THROUGH OPEN WOUNDS PRIMARILY.

AND SO IF ARE GOING TO BE PRUNING DURING THE SEASON, MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING IT DURING DRY WEATHER.

ALSO TRY AND, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD EVEN THINK ABOUT APPLYING A YOU COULD PAINT A FUNGICIDE ON THE, ON THOSE, ON THOSE PRUNING WOUNDS.

ALSO NEXT YEAR, WHEN, WHEN THOSE RASPBERRIES ARE FIRST STARTING TO COME UP, THEN YOU COULD APPLY, YOU COULD APPLY A FUNGICIDE.

A BROAD SPECTRUM FUNGICIDE WOULD WORK ALSO SOMETHING LIKE A LIME.

SULFUR TENDS TO WORK PRETTY WELL FOR CANE BLIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER?

BOBO HYDRANGEA.

YEAH.

IT'S STRESSED.

AREN'T WE ALL?

IT'S BEEN HOT.

IT COULD BE HEAT.

IT COULD BE IT GOT TOO MUCH WATER.

IT COULD BE IT DIDN'T GET ENOUGH WATER.

HYDRANGEAS TURN YELLOW WHEN THEY'RE UNHAPPY.

AND I THINK THAT'S JUST WHAT'S GOING ON.

I WOULD CHECK THE SOIL, TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF THE SOIL IS WET.

MAYBE HOLD OFF ON THE WATERING IF YOU CAN.

IF THE SOIL IS DRY, GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE WATER, BUT HOPEFULLY IT'LL COME BACK NICE AND GREEN NEXT YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FROM OMAHA.

THIS IS A LILAC TREE.

SO 30 YEARS OLD BRANCHES ARE DYING.

PICTURES INCLINED TO REMOVE THE TREE ON THIS ONE.

AND THEN WE HAVE TWO MORE PICTURES FROM NORTHERN PLATTE COUNTY ON A FARM THAT IS LILAC, IVORY SILK.

SO BLOOM BEAUTIFULLY NOW LOOKS LIKE THIS.

SO WE'VE GOT A WHOLE CLUSTER HERE.

YEAH.

THE I WOULD BE INCLINED TO REMOVE BOTH OF THESE TREES PERSONALLY.

THE WITH THIS ONE YOU KNOW, NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT'S ALL IS GOING ON.

THERE IS SOME THAT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME PSEUDOCERCOSPORA LEAF BLIGHT.

SO IT'S A FUNGUS THAT'S ON THE LEAF, BUT THAT ENTIRE TREE IS DECLINING.

IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY HEALTHY.

IT'S LOST A LOT OF ITS LEAVES AS WELL.

SO I'M REALLY NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER FOR THIS WORLD IT WILL BE THAT FIRST TREE THAT HAS SOME REALLY COOL THING THAT I CARED ABOUT WAS A. IT'S TRUE, THERE WAS.

BUT THERE WAS A CRUST.

FUNGI THAT'S GROWING ON IT.

AND THIS FUNGUS GROWS ON DEAD WOOD.

AND SO THESE ARE DEAD BRANCHES.

THIS TREE IS READY TO COME OUT.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT COOL FUNGUS, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT YOU COULD MAYBE PLANT SOMETHING ELSE THAT WOULD GROW ANOTHER FUNGUS.

YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD ATTITUDE ABOUT DEAD THINGS.

IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT.

HOW YOU LOOK AT LIFE.

RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT, SCOTT, THIS IS YOUR FIRST ONE.

HERE IS SHOULD ONE OF THESE STEMS BE PRUNED OFF?

THE TREE IS A STARK, HARDY GIANT PECAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT FIRST THING, GET RID OF THE TURF AROUND THE BASE OF THE TREE.

GET THAT BACK AND THEN TAKE A LOOK.

IT COULD BE A SUCKER FROM THE ROOTSTOCK OF THE PLANT.

SO GO AHEAD, FOLLOW THAT ONE.

THAT KIND OF LEANS AWAY FROM THE MAIN PLANT.

FOLLOW IT DOWN AND CHECK.

SEE WHERE IT'S COMING OUT.

IT'S PROBABLY COMING FROM THE ROOTSTOCK.

GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT OUT.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FROM OMAHA.

SEVEN VERY MATURE FORSYTHIA.

THEY'VE PRUNED NINE TIMES IN THREE YEARS BECAUSE THEY WERE REALLY OVERGROWN.

AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PRUNE THIS FALL AND THEN ALLOW THEM TO FLOWER IN THE SPRING?

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

IF YOU PRUNED THIS FALL, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE OFF THE FLOWER BUDS FOR NEXT YEAR.

IF YOU'RE PRUNING THREE TIMES A YEAR, YOU MIGHT JUST REEVALUATE IF THE SHRUBS SHOULD BE WHERE THEY'RE AT.

THEY'RE LOOKING REALLY GOOD IN A VERY TIGHT SPACE, BUT NO MORE THAN A THIRD.

IF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WORKING, GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE.

BUT WAIT UNTIL SPRING TILL AFTER THEY FLOWER.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN EXCUSE ME, TWO PICTURES FROM BELLEVUE, 25 YEAR OLD BURNING BUSH, WEST SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

IT'S TALL TO SHADE THE HOUSE NOW.

IT'S SO TALL THAT PRUNING THE TOP IS TRICKY AND THERE'S A DEAD PIECE IN IT.

WILL IT SURVIVE IF HE CUTS IT DOWN TO ABOUT FIVE FEET?

AND WHEN SHOULD HE DO THAT?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO CUT IT BACK DOWN TO FIVE FEET, GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT OUT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY.

BURNING BUSHES ARE ESCAPING CULTIVATION, SO THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD OPTION TO TAKE OUT AND REPLANT WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PRUNE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

WE'VE SHOWN YOU SOME IMPRESSIVE PLANTS ON BACKYARD FARMER THIS YEAR, BUT THIS WEEK'S PLANT OF THE WEEK MIGHT BE THE MOST NEBRASKA PLANT WE'VE EVER FEATURED.

(SOFT UPBEAT MUSIC) WELL, IF YOU'RE FROM NEBRASKA OR YOU'VE BEEN TO A FOOTBALL GAME, YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHERE I'M STANDING RIGHT NOW.

AND THE PLANT OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK IS ONE THAT I DIDN'T EXPECT TO DO.

IT'S CORN.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) WE GOT INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT DOWN AT THE OSBORNE LEGACY COMPLEX, WHICH IS LIKE PROBABLY THE BEST TRAINING FACILITY IN THE NATION.

WE GOT TO WORK ON ALL THE PLANTS HERE.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ANNUAL COLOR AND ALL THE RED AND WHITE THAT WE COULD FIT INTO THE AREA.

I'D SAY IN EVERY LANDSCAPE JOB, YOU'RE KIND OF FIGURING OUT WHAT DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO.

AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THE KIND OF AT THE TAIL END OF THE PROJECT WAS WE HAD A BED, IT WAS KIND OF LINEAR.

AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, WHAT IF WE DID THREE ROWS OF CORN IN THERE?

THIS JUST TAKES YOU BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING TO WHATEVER RELATIVE'S HOUSE.

WE GOT IT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF LINCOLN AND RIGHT BY MEMORIAL STADIUM.

KIND OF AN HOMAGE TO BEING THE CORNHUSKER STATE.

AND FROM THERE, WE'VE GOT CORN.

YOUR PLANT OF THE WEEK.

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK COMES TO US ON FACEBOOK FROM JUDY JANOUSEK-CHRISTENSEN OF PAPILLION.

SHE HAS A FOUR YEAR OLD HONEY LOCUST TREE THAT'S 15 OR 20FT TALL WITH AN 11 INCH DIAMETER TRUNK.

TIPS OF SOME OF THE BRANCHES ARE TURNING BROWN AND ARE COVERED WITH SOME TYPES OF WEBS.

WAYNE.

WHAT IS THIS?

SHOULD SHE TREAT IT AND IF SO, WITH WHAT?

NO, SHE SHOULD NOT TREAT IT.

AND WHAT IS IT?

THIS IS MIMOSA WEBWORM.

OKAY.

AND THIS IS THE SECOND GENERATION.

THIS IS WHEN WE NOTICED MOST OF THE DAMAGE ON THE TREES.

HOWEVER, BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE BROWN LEAVES, THE CATERPILLARS ARE TOO BIG AND SPRING'S NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD OPTION.

SO SHE COULD HAVE DONE IT IN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION.

YEAH, TYPICALLY OUR SPRAY PERIODS ARE INTO MID TO END JUNE OR END OF JULY TO MID-AUGUST.

AND WILL SHE EXPECT IT NEXT YEAR?

YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK CLOSELY AND DO YOUR SCOUTING.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH WAYNE.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTNING ROUND, WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST AND ANSWERS TO MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) WELCOME BACK.

LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL LOOK BACK ON OUR SEASON IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

YOU CAN STILL PHONE IN YOUR QUESTIONS TO 1-800-676-5446.

RIGHT NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

SCOTT.

YOU'RE UP.

ALL RIGHT.

OMAHA, DO YOU CAN YOU RECOMMEND A PLANT TO REPLACE HOSTAS AGAINST A SIDEWALK WHERE THE HOSTAS ARE BURNING?

SOUNDS LIKE TOO MUCH SUN.

YOU COULD TRY.

MY MIND JUST WENT BLANK.

SOMETHING PRETTY.

WE HAVE ONE HONEYDEW.

SHE HAS A TERRIBLE TIME FIGURING OUT WHEN THEY ARE OVERRIPE.

ONE DAY THEY'RE NOT.

WHICH?

HONEYDEW.

HONEYDEW.

I'M GONNA PASS.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO 29 INCH DIAMETER HONEY LOCUSTS.

OUR PLANTED.

SHOULD THEY DEEP ROOT FERTILIZE THEM?

THIS IS TORRINGTON, WYOMING.

PROBABLY NOT.

UNLESS A PLANT TISSUE SAMPLE CAME BACK THAT YOU'RE MISSING A NUTRIENT.

ALL RIGHT.

FROM FREMONT.

WHY AREN'T HIS ROMA TOMATOES RIPENING?

HE'S GOT LOTS OF GREEN ONES.

IT'S TOO HOT.

WITH THE COOLER WEATHER, THEY SHOULD START TO RIPEN.

AND WE HAVE ONE FROM SOMEWHERE THAT SAYS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO PICK BUTTERNUT SQUASH?

IS IT WHEN IT TURNS DARK?

IT'S A THUMBNAIL TEST AND I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I THINK IT'S WHEN IT RESISTS YOUR THUMBNAIL GOING IN.

EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB KYLE, READY?

OF COURSE.

FROM WAYNE.

HAVE YOU HEARD THIS STATEMENT?

LOTS OF MUSHROOMS IN SUMMER, MEANS LOTS OF SNOW IN WINTER.

NO, I HAVE NOT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY CORRELATION.

OKAY.

DO YOU CAN YOU GIVE US THE AMOUNT OF GRAVE X20EW PER GALLON FOR SPRAYING WHAT THEY'RE CALLING HEAT RINGS IN FESCUE.

YEAH.

LOOK ON THE LABEL AND IT WILL BE LISTED RIGHT THERE.

OKAY.

IS IT UNUSUAL TO SEE LARGE CHICKENS OR HENS OF THE WOODS RIGHT NOW?

NO.

I MEAN WE'VE HAD MOISTURE AND THEY'RE THEY'RE POPPING.

IT'S A FUN TIME TO BE A MUSHROOM.

ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO PREVENT THE FUNGUS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT IN LILACS?

NOW THAT WILL WORK FOR NEXT YEAR.

NOPE.

SANITATION.

WELL, RAKING UP THOSE LEAVES MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY.

WE HAVE ROSES THAT HAVE A LOT OF BLACK SPOT RIGHT NOW.

WOULD THERE BE A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION?

NOW?

YOU COULD, BUT REALLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BEST CONTROLLED NEXT SPRING TOO.

OKAY.

AND FALLEN APPLES ARE ROTTING.

WILL THAT AFFECT NEXT YEAR'S FLOWERS AND FRUIT?

IF YOU LEAVE THOSE APPLES TO ROT ON THE GROUND AND DON'T PICK THEM UP, THAT THERE WILL MORE MORE INFECTION FOR NEXT YEAR.

IF YOU CLEAN THEM UP, IT WON'T WON'T AFFECT NEXT YEAR'S.

ALL RIGHT.

JEFF.

OKAY.

THIS IS EASTERN NEBRASKA.

WHAT WOULD BE THE FALL FERTILIZER NPK RATIO THAT YOU SHOULD USE?

OH, SOMETHING IN THE MID 20S, TEN AND A LOW NUMBER THREE.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OKAY.

SAME VIEWER.

IS IT TIME TO APPLY THAT?

YOU COULD DO AN APPLICATION NOW.

I WOULDN'T DO ANY APPLICATIONS LATER THAN THE 1ST OF OCTOBER.

OKAY.

FROM DAVEY IS IT TOO LATE TO PLANT BUFFALO GRASS THIS FALL?

YES, IT'S PROBABLY TOO LATE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO HAVE EIGHT WEEKS OF WARM WEATHER.

AND IT'S HARD TO SAY.

ALL RIGHT.

FROM EAST OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, THEY WANT TO SOW THEIR SEED.

THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THEY CAN'T WATER FOR TEN DAYS.

WILL IT STILL GROW OR WILL IT GROW AND CROAK?

WELL, PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CONCERN WOULD BE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SOME INTERMITTENT SHOWERS THAT WOULD CREATE GERMINATION, AND THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SUSTAIN IT.

SO I THINK WE'D YOU'RE BETTER OFF WAITING TILL YOU CAN WATER.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL TRICLOPYR ON NEWLY CUT STUMPS OF TREES IN GOOD LILACS HURT THE LILACS.

OKAY, SO THEY TREATED THE STUMPS OF THE LILACS.

THEY WANT TO.

THEY WANT TO.

NOT THE LILACS.

THE LIKE THE WEED TREES.

OH, IT MIGHT, IT MIGHT TRANSLOCATE.

SO THERE MAY BE SOME ROOT CONNECTIONS THERE.

SO YEAH, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO DO, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO APPLY HERBICIDE TO SOMETHING GROWING AMONGST SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP.

OKAY.

NICE JOB.

WAYNE FROM OMAHA AND AN AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITO SHE THINKS SHE FOUND.

NOT LIKELY.

AND IF YOU DID IT'S TEMPORARY.

THEY'RE MORE SUBTROPICAL SPECIES.

FROM MURDOCH, A GRASSHOPPER INVASION, EATING EVERYTHING.

HOW TO GET RID OF THEM?

IT'S TOO LATE NOW AS ADULTS TO REALLY DO ANYTHING REAL EFFECTIVE.

KEEP YOUR GRASS MOWED AROUND THE AREAS YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT.

ONE THE MOWING KILLS THEM TO SHORT VEGETATION.

IT'S NOT THEIR THING USUALLY.

WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS TINY ANTS IN THE CRACKS OF THEIR TOMATOES.

IS THIS A PROBLEM IN THE GARDEN?

ONLY BECAUSE THEY GOT TOO MUCH WATER TO THE TOMATOES AT ONCE.

AND THE ANTS ARE DOING WHAT IN THE CRACKS OF THE TOMATOES?

WELL, THEY'RE BUSY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE LOVELY TOMATO JUICES THAT ARE COMING OUT.

OKAY FROM NEBRASKA CITY.

WHERE DO ORB WEAVER SPIDERS GO DURING THE DAY?

THEY HIDE USUALLY IN SOME VEGETATION OR NOOK OR CRANNY NEARBY WHERE THE WEB IS OKAY.

COMMON MILKWEED IS COVERED WITH TINY BLACK INSECTS AND NOW HAS YELLOW LEAVES.

SHOULD THOSE BE COMPOSTED OR DESTROYED?

TINY BLACK INSECTS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.

SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE FUNGI COATED APHIDS TO ME.

THEN AT THIS POINT, NO, YOU PROBABLY WANT TO KEEP THOSE AROUND BECAUSE THE INOCULUM FOR NEXT YEAR.

KYLE, SHOW OFF THOSE FINGERNAILS QUICKLY AND THAT YOUR DAUGHTER DID.

AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO.

SOME ARE EVEN SPARKLY.

WELL, TWO ARE SPARKLY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE GANNON GIVE US A BRIEF, BRIEF LOOK AT THE WEATHER EACH WEEK.

HE'S BACK WITH ONE MORE FORECAST.

HEY, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

DON'T BE FOOLED.

WE HAVE A FAKE FALL AHEAD OF US.

WE'LL BEGIN ON A WARMER NOTE WITH TEMPERATURES INTO THE 90S OUT WEST ON FRIDAY.

OVER THE WEEKEND, WE'LL HAVE A BIT OF A WHIPLASH WITH THE COOLER SATURDAY BEFORE A BRIEF WARM UP ON SUNDAY.

AFTER THIS, WE'LL BEGIN TO COOL BACK DOWN WITH OUR COLDEST DAY.

LIKELY TO BE ON TUESDAY WITH THE STATE WILL BE IN THE 60S.

PRECIPITATION FORECAST HAS CHANCES OF RAIN FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE STATE, WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED IN THE EASTERN HALF.

THERE'LL BE SCATTERED CHANCES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT THE BULK OF THIS ISN'T LIKELY TO FALL UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

I DO WANT TO WRAP UP WITH A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WATCHED THIS YEAR.

IT'S ALWAYS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK WHEN I'M ABLE TO COME UP HERE AND SHOW EVERYONE HOW MUCH OF A WEATHER NERD I AM.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

THANKS, GANNON.

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ART IN THE GARDEN.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH FROM 10 TO 4 SUNKEN GARDENS IN LINCOLN.

AND WE ALSO HAVE FOR THIS ONE FREE COMPOST DEMONSTRATION BY NEBRASKA EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS SEPTEMBER 26TH AT PIONEERS PARK.

ALL RIGHT, ROUND THREE ONE PICTURE.

THIS IS FROM LINCOLN, WAYNE.

WHATEVER THEY ARE, THEY SEEM TO LOVE THIS PARTICULAR PLANT.

ARE THEY FRIEND OR ARE THEY FOE, ON THIS?

SMALL NUMBERS THEY CAN BE FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY'RE COLORFUL.

THEY ARE LARGE MILKWEED BUGS AND IN LARGE NUMBERS THEY CAN DEFINITELY BE DAMAGING THAT LOVELY BUTTERFLY MILKWEED.

ALL RIGHT, PLEASE IDENTIFY THIS GROUP OF PUMPKIN GUESTS.

ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFOLIATING THE TOMATOES?

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOMATO DAMAGE.

THESE ARE SQUASH BUGS WHICH SHOULD BE SQUASHED.

THREE PICTURES FROM HOWLS.

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THIS?

THE WHOLE TREE IS FULL OF THIS.

SO KYLE AND I KIND OF CONSPIRED ON THIS ONE, AND IT'S TOUGH TO SAY I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING REAL INSECT RELATED.

AND THEN KYLE WAS WONDERING MAYBE A CANKER OR SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

IT'S TOUGH TO TELL WHAT THE PICTURES WE HAVE.

IT REALLY IS.

I WOULD RECOMMEND SUBMITTING A SAMPLE.

WE COULD SEE IT TELL A LITTLE BIT MORE.

ALL RIGHT.

FROM OMAHA, CAN WE IDENTIFY THESE BLACK THINGS ON HER, DAHLIA?

ARE THEY GOOD OR BAD?

IT'S FRASS.

OKAY.

AND I GET TO SAY FRASS HAPPENS, AGAIN.

OKAY.

SOME CATERPILLAR.

SOME CATERPILLAR GRASSHOPPERS DROPPING THEM DOWN FROM ABOVE.

OKAY.

FOUR PICTURES FROM OMAHA, JEFF.

HE SPRAYED A WEED KILLER ON HIS LAWN.

AND THEN HE REALIZED WHAT HE HAD DONE.

AND HE SHOWS US WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT HAPPENED.

AND THEN HE SHOWED US THE LABEL, AND HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW HE CAN RECOVER ON THIS ONE.

WELL.

A LOT LIKE WHAT KYLE WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

YOU CAN DIG IN THERE AND LOOK AND SEE IF THE CROWNS OF THE PLANTS ARE STILL GREEN.

YOU MAY HAVE JUST BURNED BACK THE TOP, SO IT MAY BE JUST RAKE OFF THE DEAD.

YOU COULD DO SOME RAKING IN SOME SEED, DO SOME INTERSEEDING, BUT THE PRODUCT YOU USED IS SAFE FOR TURF.

SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE LABEL, MAKING SURE THE CONCENTRATION WAS RIGHT.

TEMPERATURES, ALL THOSE THINGS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MAYBE AN OVERDONE APPLICATION.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

COULD WE PLEASE IDENTIFY THIS WEED THAT IS TAKING OVER THE BACKYARD.

SO THAT'S SPOTTED SPURGE.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS VERY EASILY KILLED WITH A THREE WAY HERBICIDE AND THEN PRE-EMERGE THOSE AREAS.

SO IF IT'S TAKING OVER THE YARD, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING A GOOD PRE-EMERGE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN IN APRIL AND PROBABLY IN JUNE.

OKAY, FROM COLUMBUS, ANOTHER WEED ID, WHAT IS THIS ONE?

AND IS THIS A DANGEROUS ONE?

I DON'T THINK IT'S A DANGEROUS ONE.

SO THAT'S DAVID SPURGE.

SO IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE EUPHORBIAS.

AGAIN, YOU CAN PULL IT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH OF A MOW IT DOWN, DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED.

OKAY.

FROM CASPER WYOMING.

KYLE THEY PLANTED TREES 23 YEARS AGO OUT OF 21 LIVED AND THRIVED.

THIS PINE.

THEY HAVEN'T WATERED OR FERTILIZED OR ANYTHING.

THE BROWN NEEDLES ON THE TOP ARE NEW.

THEY WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONTINUE TO LET IT LIVE.

YEAH, I WOULD APPARENTLY IT'S BEEN HOTTER AND DRIER IN CASPER THAN NORMAL.

I THINK THIS IS JUST SOME DROUGHT INJURY THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THE TOP.

THOSE NEEDLES ON THE TOP WON'T TURN GREEN AGAIN, BUT THE REST OF THE TREE IS FINE.

THEN YOU'LL YOU'LL BE GOOD.

OKAY.

FROM ELKHORN.

THIS IS AN OAK.

THE TREE LOOKS LIKE THIS.

AND THEN IT GETS SPOTS ON THE LEAVES AND THEY FALL OFF.

YEAH, IT'S JUST NOT A HAPPY TREE.

IT'S PLANTED A LITTLE BIT TOO DEEPLY.

KIND OF HAS THAT TELEPOLL, THAT TELEPHONE POLE LOOK, HAVING THE ROCKS AROUND THE MULCH LESS THAN IDEAL.

AND THESE THIS IS SCORCH AND THIS IS SCORCH, MOST LIKELY DUE TO A ROOT SYSTEM THAT IS STRUGGLING.

MOISTURE IS NOT GETTING BETWEEN THE VEINS.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING THAT TISSUE TO DIE.

YOU COULD TRY TO WATER IT TO WATER IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

SO MAYBE REPLACE THE TREE.

OKAY.

AND FOUR PICTURES FROM SOUTH OF NORTH PLATTE NEAR LAKE MALONEY.

SO MUSHROOMS GROWING AT THE BASE OF THE PINES, THEY THINK THEY'RE AUSTRIANS, 60FT TALL.

ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON HERE, INCLUDING PUTTING IN, DOING SOME CONSTRUCTION THAT SLICED ROOTS.

YEAH.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO HELP THOSE TREES HAVING LOSING SOME ROOTS.

AND THERE'S SOME PITCH TUBES.

SO THERE'S SOME INSECT FEEDING AS WELL THAT'S GOING ON.

THE MUSHROOM PICTURE THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE NEXT.

IT'S TOO FAR GONE TO TO REALLY TELL WHAT IT IS.

IT MOST LIKELY IT'S WELL HAS GILLS.

IT MIGHT BE AN ARMILLARIA, BUT WE CAN'T TELL FROM THIS.

BUT I LIKE HE HAD MENTIONED, JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE TREES.

ONCE THEY START TO DECLINE IT COULD BE BAD.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, KYLE.

TWO PICTURES FROM SOUTH OF BLAIR.

SCOTT LILAC DID THIS LAST YEAR.

DIDN'T BLOOM THIS SPRING.

THEY'RE HOPING IT'S A ONE TIME THING.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FROM OMAHA.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE LILACS?

THEY'RE OLD FASHIONED.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE 50 YEARS.

OH, IT'S BEEN A ROUGH COUPLE OF YEARS TO BE A LILAC IN NEBRASKA.

WE'VE HAD THAT PSEUDO SOMETHING FUNGUS.

AND THEN THERE'S A PSEUDO SOMETHING BACTERIA.

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN TELL WHICH ONE IS WHICH IS BY SENDING SAMPLES TO KYLE.

GOOD SANITATION.

YOU COULD TRY TO DO REJUVENATION PRUNING.

BUT RIGHT NOW, GOOD SANITATION.

GET THE LEAVES UP OFF THE GROUND.

NEXT SPRING, YOU COULD DO A BROAD SPECTRUM FUNGICIDE IF IT IS THE FUNGUS.

OKAY.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE BACTERIA IS PSEUDOMONAS.

THE FUNGUS IS PSEUDOCERCOSPORA SIMPLE.

TWO PICTURES FROM LINCOLN.

THIS IS A HYDRANGEA.

TEN YEARS AGO IT WAS SHADED AND NOW IT'S NOT.

AND IT IS ONE THAT IS A VARIETY THAT IS GOLD.

BUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH GOLD.

IT'S NOT HAPPY.

YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND TRANSPLANT IT THIS FALL OR EARLY SPRING, BUT THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGE.

IT'S NOT HAPPY.

IT'S NOT ADAPTING.

OKAY.

AND FROM SEWARD, TWO PICTURES FIRST YEAR IN 15 OR 20 THAT THE FOLIAGE OF HER CANNAS HAVE TURNED WHITE.

THIS IS NATURE.

IT'S A SPORT.

IT'S A MUTATION.

MIGHT WANT TO FLAG THAT CANNA BECAUSE IF IT COMES BACK NEXT YEAR, THE SAME THING HAPPENS.

YOU COULD PROPAGATE IT AND MAKE YOUR OWN NEW VARIETY, BUT ENJOY IT.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

SCOTT.

AS WE END ANOTHER SEASON OF BACKYARD FARMER, WE LIKE TO LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR GARDEN.

AS EXPECTED, WE DEALT WITH CRAZY WEATHER AS WELL AS TYPICAL INSECT AND DISEASE ISSUES.

OUR GARDEN WAS STILL BEAUTIFUL AND PRODUCTIVE.

HERE'S TERRI TO WRAP UP THE SEASON IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR SEASON AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SEASON IT HAS BEEN.

REMEMBER, WE DO START IN JANUARY, SO A LOT OF THESE AREN'T NECESSARILY MAYBE FROM THOSE TIMES OF THE SEASON.

BUT OUR GARDEN STARTED IN JANUARY IN THE GREENHOUSE.

LOTS OF NEW SEEDS, SOME GREAT ALL-AMERICA SELECTION WINNERS THAT WE ARE REALLY PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP IN OUR GARDEN MOVING FORWARD.

BUT AS WE MOVED OUT INTO THE GARDEN IN MARCH, REMEMBER WE HAD THOSE KIND OF CRAZY WARM WEATHER.

WE PUT OUR PANSIES OUT EARLY AND LIKE MANY OF YOU, OUR PANSIES ALSO DIED.

SO WE HAD TO KIND OF RETHINK HOW WE WERE GOING TO DO OUR EARLY SPRING CONTAINERS.

SO LOTS OF UPS AND DOWNS, JUST ALONG WITH ALL OF YOU IN YOUR GARDEN.

BUT AS OF MAY, OUR GARDEN HAS BEEN PLANTED.

IT HAS LOOKED FANTASTIC, LOTS OF GREAT COLORS AND EVEN A TON OF POLLINATORS ALL THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN.

AS WE MOVE INTO THE FALL SEASON, WE WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE VISITING YOU.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT ON TV, OUR GARDEN IS STILL THRIVING AND IT WILL LOOK FANTASTIC.

WELL UP INTO THE LAST FROST OF THE SEASON, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT ALL AMERICA SELECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STORES, SO IF YOU FOUND SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY LIKED, PLEASE GO AND FIND THOSE AND TRY THOSE IN YOUR GARDEN FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND WE ARE SUPER LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING OUT WHAT THE 2027 ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS WILL LOOK LIKE.

THERE ARE A FEW THAT HAVE COME OUT, SO CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE.

BUT IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD JUST STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN IN 2027 TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT FOR THE DISPLAY GARDEN.

IT'S SAD TO SEE YOU GO, BUT WE'RE EXCITED FOR 2027, SO DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN TO FINISH OUT THE 2026 SEASON.

AND DON'T FORGET, 2027 IS GOING TO BE SUPER SPECIAL BECAUSE WE'LL BE CELEBRATING 75 YEARS WITH BACKYARD FARMER.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THE GARDEN TERRI, TOM AND EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS AND WE WILL OF COURSE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE NEXT SEASON.

ALL RIGHT, WAYNE, ONE PICTURE.

WHAT ARE THESE BUGS?

ARE THEY GOOD OR BAD?

DOES SHE NEED TO GET RID OF THEM?

THEY'RE A NUISANCE.

WHEN SHE TRIES TO CUT FLOWERS.

THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE MORE OF A NUISANCE.

THEY'RE JUST AFTER THE POLLEN.

THEY'RE GOLDENROD LEATHER WINGS OR GOLDENROD SOLDIER BEETLES, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.

OKAY.

UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

HOW ABOUT THIS GUY.

THAT LOOKS LIKE A GREEN JUNE BEETLE LARVAE TO ME?

A WHAT?

GREEN JUNE BEETLE LARVAE.

A GREEN JUNE.

SO IT'S A BIG, JUICY ONE.

IT'S NOT AS BIG AS IT WILL BE NEXT SPRING, THOUGH.

REALLY, THEY GROW OVER THE WINTER.

WELL, THEY'LL GROW A LITTLE BIT MORE THIS FALL.

AND THEN IN THE SPRING THEY'LL COME UP AND GROW SOME MORE BEFORE THEY PUPATE.

OKAY.

AND THEN WE HAVE FOUND THIS EGG CASE NEAR THE CLEMATIS VINE.

SHE WONDERS, CAN WE IDENTIFY IT?

OKAY.

IT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN PRAYING MANTIS AND THE CAROLINA PRAYING MANTIS.

THIS ONE IS HAS THAT WHITISH TO TAN COLOR STRIPE DOWN THE MIDDLE.

SO I'M GOING TO GO WITH CAROLINA.

GOOD GUY THOUGH.

PRETTY GOOD.

YES.

NATIVE GOOD GUY.

NATIVE GOOD GUY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

JEFF, TWO PICTURES FROM LINCOLN.

THIS PLANT HAS STARTED TO APPEAR IN THE LAWN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

NOTICED IT ON OTHER PROPERTIES.

IT HAS A LONG TAPROOT.

WHAT IS IT?

IT LOOKS LIKE MULBERRY TO ME.

SO.

AND ESPECIALLY IF THE TAPROOTS ORANGISH WHEN THEY PULL IT OUT, THAT KIND OF CONFIRMS THAT.

SO TO CONTROL IT THIS TIME OF YEAR, I WOULD JUST BE CUTTING IT BACK SO I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT APPLYING A HERBICIDE AT THIS POINT.

ALL RIGHT.

ALSO FROM LINCOLN, SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE GRASS GROWING IN THE LAWN IN THE BACKYARD DOESN'T KNOW, BUT IT'S GROWING IN THREE DIFFERENT SPOTS.

WHAT IS THIS?

YEAH, WE HAVE GOOD OLD NUTSEDGE.

IT'S COMING UP AGAIN, SO IT'S GETTING A LITTLE LATE, BUT THERE ARE SOME HERBICIDES OUT THERE, SEDGEHAMMER.

SEDGE ENDER.

THERE'S A LOT OF PRODUCTS THAT HAVE A SEDGE PRODUCT IN THEM.

SO YOU COULD DO AN APPLICATION AND SEE WHAT YOU GET, BUT YOU'LL PROBABLY BE TREATING IT AGAIN IN THE SPRING.

OKAY.

FROM COLUMBUS.

AGAIN, WHAT ARE THESE?

YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WERE GROUND CHERRIES.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

NOT THAT I'M DISPUTING YOU, BUT.

THAT WAS A QUESTION MARK.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR ANY OF US, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE YOU HAVE A MASS OF PLANTS GERMINATING.

MY GUESS IS SOME LITTLE WEED HAS PLANTED ITSELF THERE.

SO I WOULD JUST MOW THE WHOLE THING OFF, GRAB THE WHOLE BUNCH AND PULL THEM OUT.

THEY'LL PROBABLY PULL OUT PRETTY EASILY.

DON'T LET THEM FLOWER.

OKAY.

THANKS, JEFF.

TWO PICTURES FROM A FARM NORTH OF GRAND ISLAND.

KYLE.

JUST WONDERING WHAT THEY MIGHT BE.

THEY LOOK LIKE MARSHMALLOWS.

YEAH, THEY'RE NOT.

I MEAN, I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO PUT ONE ON A ON A S'MORE, MAYBE, BUT YEAH, THEY THEY REALLY DO.

THEY'RE SUPER COOL.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TYPE OF MUSHROOM THEY ARE.

THERE'S SOME TYPE OF AGARIC I WOULD NEED TO SEE IT TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE SPORES TO IDENTIFY WHICH WHICH AGARIC IT IS.

BUT AS THEY MATURE THEY GET BIGGER AND WE'LL GET THAT KIND OF NORMAL MUSHROOM SHAPE.

ALL RIGHT.

FROM TWO RIVERS STATE PARK.

FOUND THIS WHILE MOWING.

WHAT IS IT?

THAT'S PROBABLY A PHELLINUS.

IT'S ONE OF ONE OF OUR CONK FUNGI.

AND IT'S A WOOD DECAYING FUNGI.

SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT TREE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND FROM SOUTH OMAHA, MUSHROOMS GROWING OUT OF A SILVER MAPLE ROOT TOOK THE TREE OUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS HOLLOW.

HE JUST THINKS IT'S COOL AND LARGE.

WHAT IT IS?

IT IS COOL.

IT'S PROBABLY IT'S PROBABLY PROBABLY AN ARTIST CONK.

IT'S SOME TYPE OF GANODERMA MUSHROOM.

BUT YEAH, IT LOOKS COOL.

AND IT'S PROBABLY PRETTY HARD BY NOW TOO.

ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE.

SCOTT.

SO THIS IS ONE WHERE WE ARE STILL WORKING ON IT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

WE GOT THE SAMPLE.

IT DOES LOOK LIKE A PINTO ANEMIA OR INULA.

THE GENUS NAME HAS CHANGED.

IT IS AN INVASIVE ORNAMENTAL.

BEST WAY TO HELP MANAGE THIS.

DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED.

YOU COULD CUT IT HALFWAY BACK AND.

AND PAINT A BRUSH AND STUMP KILLER ON IT, BECAUSE IT REALLY HAS A STRONG RHIZOTOMY ROOT SYSTEM.

ALL RIGHT, THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

SCOTT.

THIS VINE STARTED GROWING ON THE FENCE.

IT HAS MUSHROOMED.

WHAT IS IT AND IS ANYTHING ABOUT IT EDIBLE?

WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE TRY IT.

IT'S A SQUASH.

I'M NOT A SQUASH PERSON.

IT LOOKS EDIBLE.

TRY IT.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

BUT IT COULD BE A VOLUNTEER.

SO A HYBRID BETWEEN TWO TYPES.

A NEIGHBOR COULD HAVE PLANTED IT FOR YOU.

SO.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

FROM NORTHWEST BELLEVUE.

CAN WE ID THIS YELLOW PLANT?

YEAH.

FALSE SUNFLOWER.

ONE OF THE GOOD ONES THAT.

ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY FUN TO.

HAVE SEEDS ITSELF A LITTLE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

YES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR'S BACKYARD FARMER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED QUESTIONS AND TO OUR DEDICATED EXPERT PANELISTS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAM.

WE WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CREW HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA FOR THEIR FANTASTIC HELP BROADCASTING THE SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES TONIGHT WERE JOHN CARIOTTO, GARY BELL AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

AND A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS WHO ANSWER THE PHONE EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

AS THE 74TH SEASON ENDS, WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, BRAD MILLS.

AFTER THREE DECADES WITH BACKYARD FARMER, BRAD IS OFFICIALLY RETIRING, AND WE CAN ONLY ASSUME HE'S SAILING OFF INTO THE SUNSET, PROBABLY WITH A FISHING POLE IN ONE HAND.

ABSOLUTELY NO PRODUCTION SCHEDULE IN THE OTHER.

SINCE JOINING THE SHOW, BRAD HAS HELPED PRODUCE COUNTLESS EPISODES AND KEPT THE WHEELS TURNING SEASON AFTER SEASON.

OVER 30 YEARS, HE'S SEEN PLENTY OF CHANGES IN THE SHOW, IN TELEVISION, AND IN THE WAY WE CONNECT WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

WE APPRECIATE THE TIME BRAD HAS SPENT WITH BACKYARD FARMER AND ALL THE BEHIND THE SCENES WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING A TELEVISION SHOW LOOK A LOT EASIER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS.

BRAD, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.

WE WISH YOU PLENTY OF SUNSHINE, SMOOTH SAILING, TIGHT FISHING LINES, AND NO ONE ASKING, CAN WE GET ONE MORE TAKE FROM ALL OF US AT BACKYARD FARMER?

THANK YOU.

WE'RE PROUD THAT BACKYARD FARMER IS THE LONGEST RUNNING LOCALLY PRODUCED TELEVISION SERIES IN THE COUNTRY.

NEXT YEAR WILL BE OUR 75TH AND WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS, SO WE HOPE YOU'LL COME ALONG WITH US FOR WHAT WILL BE ANOTHER FABULOUS SEASON.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARMER.

(UPBEAT MUSIC)